Farm Bureau: Hoosiers See Higher Food Prices Ahead of Fourth of July

Summer cookout costs increase for Indiana shoppers, similar to U.S. average.

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INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana shoppers will see slightly higher prices than last year as they prepare for their Fourth of July cookout. 

Indiana Farm Bureau's annual summer cookout market basket revealed Hoosiers are paying an average of $71.49 for a cookout feeding 10 people this summer, or $7.15 per person. 

That is a five percent increase compared to last year, and is approximately one percent, or six cents higher than the U.S. average price of $7.09 per person. 

“Inflation is slowing slightly, prices are leveling out and supply chain issues that have been prevalent for the last few years are slowly getting worked out, so we are seeing just a slight increase in prices compared to the last few years here in Indiana,” explained INFB Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis.

The total market basket price of $71.49 includes ground beef, cheese, hamburger buns, pork chops, chicken breasts, pork and beans, potato salad, strawberries, chips, ice cream, cookies and lemonade.

The two items that saw the largest increase in price were ice cream and strawberries, which increased 31 percent and 19 percent respectively from the 2024 price. However, those items were right in line with the national averages this year.

According to the USDA, just 16 cents of every retail food dollar spent goes back to farmers. The rest is for food processing, packaging, transportation, wholesale and retail distribution, and food service preparation.

“Farmers are price takers, not price makers – just like consumers,” said Janis Highley, INFB 2^nd vice president. “Margins are still tight for farmers due to high supply costs because the amount farmers are being paid isn’t covering that increase in expenses.

The INFB summer cookout market basket survey was conducted in early June by volunteer shoppers across the state who collected prices on specific food items from one of their local grocery stores. Volunteer shoppers were asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals.